Multiple port valve



May 25, 1954 F. J. STEINER 2,679,376

MULTIPLE PORT VALVE 177%??? for MM M 1427975.

May 25, 1954 F. J. STEINER 2,679,376 MULTIPLE PORT VALVE Filed April 28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inflenfar 5; Wm M W Patented May 25, 1954 MULTIPLE PORT VALVE Frank J. Steiner, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Automatic Pump & Softener Corporation, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 28, 1952, Serial No. 284,791

7 Claims.

This invention relates to valves and has special reference to multiple port rotary type valves.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a valve of the character described wherein the fluid prestures acting on opposite sides of the rotary member are brought substantially into balance prior to rotation.

Another object is to provide a lift turn type valve wherein communication to atmosphere is closed prior to lifting the rotor.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a multiple port valve of the type having a port communicating with a drain or other point at atmospheric pressure wherein said port is closed and fluid pressure is admitted thereto prior to turning the rotor to substantially balance the pressure on opposite sides thereof prior to rotation.

Another object is the provision, in a valve of the class described, of novel auxiliary valve structure for closing the communication through one of the ports in the body and for establishing communication between the port and a source of fluid pressure in the valve.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a valve embodying the invention taken along the line |--l of Fig. 4 showing the valve in the normal service position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the cam arrangement, the cams being shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the top of the stem plate or rotor;

Fig. 4 is a view on the line 43 of Figure 1 showing the face of the body and gasket;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section through the body and rotor taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the rotor in its first moved position, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary views similar to Figure 1 showing steps in the movement of the rotor.

The invention is shown embodied in a multiport valve of the lift turn type which have in the past largely been used to control the liquid flows in base exchange water softeners and filters. The present embodiment includes a body member indicated generally by the numeral 3 having an annular top flange 9, it being understood that terms such as top and bottom as used herein are intended to be relative and refer only to the positions as shown in the drawings. A rotor housing H, likewise having an annular bottom flange i2 is secured to the top of the body by means of spaced bolts i3 passing through the flanges and through a sealing gasket interposed between the flanges. The rotor housing H also has a top flange M to which a cover I5 is attached by means of a cover flange IS, the annular outer edge ll of a diaphragm l8 being interposedbetween the dances l4 and I6 and secured in fluid tight relation thereto by annularly spaced bolts E9. The cover l5 carries a centrally disposed cam mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 2| which will presently be described in more detail.

Referring now to the structural details of the body 8 shown in Figures 1 and 4, the body has a fiat top face member 22, in this instance of circular configuration inasmuch as the illustrated embodiment of the valve is of generally circular cross-sectional shape. As will be seen from Fig-- ure 1, the flange 9 is a continuation of the face member. The body also includes concentric tubular body walls 23 and 24 extending downwardly from the face member, the outer walls 23 converging inwardly in spaced relation to the face member, as shown at 25, and merging with the Wall 24. The lower end of the tubular wall 24 carries a conventional pipe flange 23 or other means for connection thereto. Pipe connections 21 and 28 are provided through the wall 23 in the form of nipples, integral with the wall 23, carrying conventional pipe flanges 29 and 3|. The space between the walls 23 and 24 is divided into two separate chambers 32 and 33 by longitudinally disposed imperforate walls 34 and 35, the pipe connections 2! and 28 each communicating with one of the chambers.

The face member 22 is provided, in this embodiment, with six annularly spaced openings communicating with the chambers 32 and 33 forming ports for "the selective passage of fluid therethrough, ports 3'6, 3'! and 38 opening into chamber 32 and ports 39, 4| and 42 opening into chamber 33. The face member 22 also has a port opening 33 communicating with a tube 44 sealed at one end to the face member, extending through the chamber 33, out through the bottom of the body and sealed to the bottom as shown at 45. A central port it in the face member communicates with a chamber 3? defined by the walls 24. Disposed upon the upper side of the face member 22 is a gasket 48 of rubber or other suitable resilient gasket material, in this instance connected to the face member 22 and provided with openings therethrough corresponding in shape and size with the ports 36 through 39 and 4|, 42, 43 and 46.

Each of the ports 38 and. 42 are provided with a how restricting or throttling valve of identical construction, each comprising a thimble 49 threaded into the port in the face member and depending into the chamber beneath. The thimble is open at its lower end and in the embodiment shown has four slots as indicated at 5! extending upwardly from its bottom edge. A plunger 52 fits within the thimble and is mounted on a stem 53 projecting downwardly through the for locking the stem in adjusted position. A slot.

58 at the end of the stem is adapted to receive a tool for rotating the stem to adjust'the posi tion of the plunger 52 in the thimble and thereby determine the area of slots 5.I through which flow may occur between the bottom chamber and the ports 38 or 42.

The rotor housing I I has an inlet pipe connection 59 provided with the usual pipe flange BI for connection into a system of piping in the usual manner. Disposed within the housing is a rotor '62 having a substantially fiat lower face adapted to seat on the gasket 48 and to control the fluid flow through the ports in the face member. As best shown in Fig. 3, the rotor has an open port 63 extending therethrough on substantially the same radius as the ports in the face member to permit communication between the chamber 60 within the housing I I and certain of the ports in the face member in the various positions of the rotor and has a transfer passage 55 registering at all times with the central port 98 and selectively registrable with certain annular ports of the face member to establish communication therebetween in the various positions of the rotor. The bottom surface of. the. rotor is otherwise imperforate. According to the present invention there is centrally disposed on the rotor a supporting flange 66 for connecting the rotor to a centrally disposed stem 6 a sleeve 68 of an auxiliary valve disk 59 being interposedbetween the flange and the stem. The rotor is attached to the stem by a pin II threaded into. the rotor and passing through a slot 12 in the stem. to provide lost motion therebetween, the pin also passing through slots I3 in the sleeve 58 to provide lost motion between these ports- The valve disk 69 overlies a portion of the upper side of the rotor and has a gasket 14 coopcrating therewith to control flow between the chamber 64 and the transfer passage 65 through a plurality of passages 15. An ring seal is disposed between the stem; sleeve. 68 adjacent the upper end of the latter to prevent leakage along the interface.

The stem carries a collar Hi attached thereto below the supporting flange E6 and passes through a guide TI forming part of a spider having an annular mounting sleeve it aflixed in the port :16. The stem extends into the chamber 4'1 and carries an auxiliary valve plate 79 of substantially smaller dimensions than the chamber adapted in the upward movement of the stem to engage against the bottom of a valve ring 8I, snugly received in chamber 4-? to close the central opening 82- in the ring and to raise the ring free of supporting lugs 83 attached to side walls 24 and projecting into the chamber 41,. to support the ring in the lower position. of thestem.

The diaphragm 'I8, which has its perimeter clampedv in. a fluidtight manner between flanges I4 and i6 forms with associated parts the upper wall of chamber 54 and the lower wall of a chamber 00, and has a central opening for the passage of stem Thestem is attached to the diaphragm by means of a pair of clamping plates 84, the inner edge of; the diaphragm being clamped between the plates by action of bolts 85 which draw the. outer edges of' the plates together to compress the diaphragm therebetween in fluidtight fashion. A spacer plate 86 is. disposed between the clamping plates for obvious reasons.

The stem carries an externally threaded sleeve 51 within which the stem is capable. of rotation, the clamping plates and spacer having a central opening for the reception of the sleeve so that the clamping assembly seats against a shoulder 88 on the sleeve and is held thereagainst by a nut 83' threaded onto the sleeve and bearing against the upper side of the clamping assembly. The nut is held against rotation by a lock screw El engaging the clamping assembly. A split ring 52 is disposed in adjoining recesses in the stem and sleeve and bears the end thrust occasioned by liftingv of the stem and rotor by action of the diaphragm, and a lip 53 on the nut serves to prevent more than very limited movement of the sleeve axially downward with respect to the stem.

The cam mechanism 2| is centrally mounted on the cover I5 which has an integral mounting flange 94 to which a cam housing 95 is bolted, a gasket being interposed therebetween. Surrounding the stem is a lower cam member (best shown in Fig. 2) having an annular fiange portion 96 secured against the mounting flange 94 by cap screws 91 with a gasket interposed therebetween for sealing purposes and a cam portion 98 disposed within the cam housing 95'. The cam member carries an 0 ring seal 99 to seal the interface along the shaft. An upper cam member has a flange portion IOI secured across the upper end of the cam housing and a depending cam portion I02 disposed in spaced relation to the lower cam portion 98 for the reception therebetween of followers in the form of projecting ends of a pin I03 secured in the stem. The stem projects above the flange portion IOI in the seated position of the valveand the projecting end is enclosed by a cap I04 secured to the flange portion and extending upwardly a distance sufficient to permit rising of the stem. Communicating with the chamber 60' defined by the diaphragm and the cover I5 is an inlet connection I05 of relatively small size and an outlet connection I06 of substantially'larger size than the inlet connection having a valve I01 forcontrolling the outlet flow from the chamber 60.

Operation Since valves of this character are principally used as part of base exchange liquid treatment apparatus and filters for the purpose of controlling liquid flows in such a system, its operation will be described in that environment.

The connection 59 is connected to a source of the liquid to be treated which enters the valve under pressure. The valve connection 21 may be connected to the top of the treatment tank, the connection 28 to the bottom of the tank, and the connection 26 to a main or point of waste disposal. When the rotor is seated in the normal or service position as shown in Figure 1,f1uid under pressure (which may in many instances be the liquid being supplied through connection 59) is supplied to the chamber 60 through connection I05, and the diaphragm and rotor are retained in the position shown. When the rotor occupies the normal or so-called service position, the rotor. port 63 registers with body port 31, permitting fluid to flow from connection 59, through chamber 54, ports: 53 and 31, chamber 32 and connection 21 to the top of the treatment tank.

To shift the rotor to its next position the control valve I01 is opened to establish communication. between the chamber 60 and a point 01' low pressure, preferably atmospheric or even lower and allow the fluid to drain from the chamber and the pressure therein to fall to a point substantially below that in chamber 64. The difference in pressure between the two chambers causes the diaphragm to move upwardly until the nut 89 engages the flange portion 96, bringing the stem 6? upwardly to the same extent by action of sleeve 87 on ring 92.

During the initial part of the upward move ment of the stem the slot 72 permits the stem to move with respect to the pin ll so that the valve plate I9 engages the valve ring 3!, closing the central opening 82, and terminating communication between drain port 46 and the drain connection. Upon further upward movement of the stem, the plate 79 raises the ring 8! from lugs 83 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 to maintain the drain line closed. With continued upward movement of the stem the collar it engages the lower end of the sleeve 68 causing the sleeve and valve disk 69 to move upwardly in the supporting flange 66, the slots 13 permitting such relative movement. This moves the disk upwardly away from the rotor and opens communication between the passage 65 and the chamber 64 through openings 75 as shown in Fig. 6, allowing the hydraulic pressure within the passage and drain port to become substantially equal to that in the chamber 64. When the stem brings the col ar it against the lower end of supporting flange 66, continued upward movement of the stem raises the lower face of the rotor free or substantially free of the gasket 48, the position of the ports at this point being shown in Fig. 7.

Referring now to Fig. 2, during the upward movement of the stem just described the ends of the pin 13 move vertically upward between parallel faces I98 at diametrically opposite sides of the lower cam. At the point in the upward movement of the stem at which the rotor is substantially free of the gasket the ends of the pin come into engagement with helically disposed faces I09 of the upper cam and with continued upward movement of the stem slide along these faces to rotate the stem and, throughthe pin H, rotate the rotor through 45 degrees when the cam pin enters between parallel faces i H of the upper cam.

When the control valve i! is closed, fluid entering chamber 69 through connection I causes the pressure to build up to a point equal or exceeding that in chamber 64, whereupon the diaphragm and stem move down. During downward movement the ends of the cam pin first move down between parallel faces I l I of the upper cam until the contact helical faces H2 of the lower cam and they then slide along this face, rotating 45 degrees, until they reach the succeeding pairs of parallel faces H38 of the lower cam. At this point in the downward or reseating movement of the stem, the rotor has been turned through 90 degrees and the lower face of the rotor is returned approximately to contact with the gasket 48. As the stem continues its downward movement the rotor contacts the gasket and the collar '15 moves away from the end of support flange 56 allowing valve disk 69 to reseat on the top of the rotor. Subsequently the valve ring 8! engages the lugs 83 and the valve plate 19 moves away from the ring to reopen the drain, and bring the valve ports to the next seated position, with the open rotor port 63 in registration with body port 39 and the transfer passage in registration with body port 38 bring-'- ing the parts to the position shown in Fig. 5.

In this position of the valve liquid flows from chamber 64 through ports 63 and 39, chamber 33 and connection 28 to the bottom of the treatment tank and from the top of the treatment tank through connection 21, chamber 32, port 38, transfer passage 65 and port 46 to drain, the rate of flow being determined by the adjusted position of the restriction at port 38.

By repeatedly opening and closing control valve ID! the rotor is moved by degree steps through a complete cycle of 360 degrees back to the service position. Thus, in the third position of the rotor, the rotor port 63 registers with body port 43 to supply liquid to an xternal eductor and transfer passage 65 register with body port 4| to permit flow from the bottom of the treatment tank to drain, and in the fourth position of the rotor the open rotor port 63 registers with body port 36 to supply rinse liquid to the top of the tank and transfer passage 65 registers with body port 42 to connect the bottom of the tank to drain, the flow in this position also being determined by the adjustment of the restriction at port 4|.

I claim:

1. A plate type valve comprising in combination a body member having a plurality of ports, one of said ports being a low pressure port, a ported rotor cooperable with the body member adapted to elfect different communication between the body ports in different positions of the rotor, a rotor housing member on the body forming a chamber enclosing the rotor, one of said members having a supply port communicating with the interior of the housing member to supply fluid to the valve and apply seating pressure against the rotor, an auxiliary valve in the body for controlling flow through the low pressure port, an auxiliary valve on the rotor for controlling communication between the low pressure port and the housing chamber, a stem associated with the rotor having longitudinal movement with respect thereto and rotatable to turn the rotor between different operative positions, and means acting between the stem and said auxiliary valves to close the auxiliary low pressure port valve and open the auxiliary rotor valve in response to movement of the stem longitudinally in one direction to admit pressure to the low pressure port prior to turning the rotor, and to close the auxiliary rotor valve and open the auxiliary low pressure port valve upon longitudinal return movement of the stem in the opposite direction.

2. A multiport valve comprising in combination a body member having a plurality of ports, one of said ports being a low pressure port, a rotor cooperable with the body member having a plurality of ports adapted for diiferent registration with the body ports in different positions of the rotor, a rotor housing member attached to the body forming a chamber enclosing the rotor, one of said members having a supply port normally communicating with the interior of the housing member to supply fluid under pressure to the valve and apply seating pressure against the rotor, an auxiliary valve for controlling fiow through the low pressure port, an auxiliary valve on the rotor for controlling communication between the low pressure port and the housing chamber, a stem associated with the rotor having longitudinal movement with respect thereto and rotatable to turn therotor low pressure port valve upon turn movement of the, stem in the opposite digamers between different operativepositions, and means connecting the-stem-to said auxiliary valves to first; close the auxiliary, lowv pressure-port valve andxthen openthe auxiliarvrotor valve in response to movementof the stem longitudinally innone direction and to first close theauxiliary rotorivalve and thereafter open the auxiliary longitudinal rerection.

" 3.. The combination in a multiple port valve ofca body member having a ported face provided with a plurality of ports, one of said ports being a centrally disposed low pressure port, a ported rotoncooperable with the body member having a plurality of ports adaptedfor different ;regist,ra

tion with the body ports in different positions-of the rotor, said rotor-ports including a passage interconnecting the low pressure port and certain ofqtherother body ports in various positions of the rotor, a rotor housing member on, the body forming a chamber enclosingthe rotor, onenf said members having a supply-port normally communicating with the chamber to supplyqfluid underpressure thereto forpassage through the valve and placing the chamber under pressure, an auxiliary valve for controlling flow'through thelowpressure port, an auxiliary valve onthe rotor for controlling communication between the rotor passage and .the chamber, a stem associated with the rotor having longitudinal movement with respect thereto and rotatable to turn the .rotor between different operative positions,

and means connecting the stem to said auxiliary valves to ,closegthe auxiliary :low'pressure port valve and open the auxiliary rotor valve in re: .sponse to, movement of the stem'longitudinally vin onedirection to'bring the fluid pressure within the rotor, passage substantially to that of: the

chamber, and to close the auxiliary rotor valve and open the auxiliary low'pressure port valve upon movement of the stem in the: opposite direction to reestablish low pressure conditions Within the passage.

4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein the low pressure port valve includes a tubular passage communicating/with the low" pressure port, a ring slidable in :said'tube and having a central opening for the passage of .fluidto the-low pressure port, means for supporting the ring in the tuba-anda valve disk attached to the stem positioned to engage the ring and: cover the central opening: and thereafter slide the ring in the tube: upon movement of the stem in said one direction and to return the ring to its support and uncover the central opening upon -return movement of the stem in said opposite direction.

5;"A plate type valve comprising in combination a body member having a plurality of ports,

one-.ofsaid ports being a low pressure port, a

ported: rotor cooperable to effect different com munication between the ports in difierent positions of the rotor, the rotor having a passage in communication with the low pressure port, a rotor housing member on the body forming a chamber enclosing the rotor, one of said members having a connection communicating with the-chamber to supply fluid under pressure for passage through the valve and placing the chamher under pressure, a stem passing through the rotor and into the low pressure port having a lost motion connection to the rotor for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, an auxiliary low pressure port valve in the body operated by longitudinal movement of the stem in one direction-to closegthe valve and by return-move ment to open the valve, an auxiliary-rotor valve member on the stem normally closing anopen ing through v the rotor between said chamber and said passage, said rotor valve member-hav ing a lost motion connection with said:;stem, means for opening the rotor valve member;subsequent to the closing of the low pressureport valve in response to movement of the stem in said one direction to raise the pressure in said. passage and for closing the rotor valve member priorto opening of the low pressure portvalve upon return movement of the stern, and means acting between the stem and the rotor for turning the rotor.

6. A multiport valve comprising in combination a body member having a plurality of ports; one of said ports being a low pressure port, a ported rotorcooper-able with the body member adapted to eiiect different;communication between the body ports in different positions oi'the rotor, a rotor housing member on the body:f0rming a chamber enclosing the rotor, one of said members having a supply port communicating with the interior ofthe housing member to supply fluid to the valve and apply seating pressure against the rotor, an auxiliary valve in the body for controlling fiowthrough'the low pressure port, an auxiliary valve on the rotor-for; controlling communication between the low pressure port and the housingchamber, means-for turning the rotor between diiierentoperative positions and means operative to first close, theauxiliary low pressure port valve'and then open the auxiliary rotor valve priorto turning of the rotor) and operative to first close the auxiliary-rotor valve and thereafter open the auxiliary low-pressurc port valve after turning of;the rotor. '7. A multiportvalve comprising incombination a body member having a plurality-0f ports, one of said ports being a low pressure port; a ported rotor cooperable with the bodymember adapted to' effect difierent communication-between the body ports in different positions of the rotor, a rotorhousing-member on thebody forminga chamber enclosing the rotor, one of said members having a supply portcommunicating with the interior of the housingmemberto supply fluid to the valve and apply seatingrpressure against the rotor,an auxiliary valve in the body for controlling flow through the low pressure port, an auxiliary valve on the rotor forcontrolling communication between the low pressure port and-the housing chamber, rotor turning means associated with the rotor having a lostmotion connection thereto and rotatable to turn the 'rotor between different operative-positions. and connections from said rotor-turningmeans to said auxiliary valves to first close the auxiliary low pressure port valve and then open theauxiliary rotor valve priorto turning of the rotor and to first .close the auxiliary rotor valve and thereafteropen the auxiliary. low pressure port valve after turning of therotor.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,387,101 Candee Aug. 9, 1921 2,235,287 Daniels Mar. 18, 1941 2,371,498 Boynton Mar. 13, 1945 2,582,333 Horodeck Jan. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country. Date 35,259 Denmark 1925 

